Regeneration scheme for town centre

Wakefield Council hopes to revamp areas of the town centre to help attract more footfall.

It comes after plans to build the £135m Five Towns Park in Glass Houghton were approved last year.

Retailers Next, Primark and Marks & Spencer have all announced plans to open new stores on the site.

The council plans to redevelop the town centre by carrying out work on Carlton Street and Sagar Street.

It would include installing new paving, plants and street furniture and the work is expected to cost £560,000.

The council also wants to carry out a feasibility study, in partnership with West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service, to explore how best to interpret the buried archaeological remains of the Roman Bath-House.

This would include looking at ways to replicate the layout of the building at ground level as well as providing new interpretation panels.

The next phase of regeneration would then focus on the riverside improvements.

Coun Denise Jeffery, the council’s cabinet member for economic growth and skills, said: “Regeneration in Castleford continues to be a priority and these future schemes will bring shoppers into the area.

“The plans for the Roman Bath-House site will be a fascinating attraction for the area, helping to promote Castleford’s Roman heritage.

“These improvements to the town centre will continue to support our plans to make Castleford a great place to live, work and invest in.”

If approved, the regeneration projects will be funded using existing resources.

The plans will be discussed by the council’s cabinet on Tuesday, January 26.